Centrifugal brake assembly

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal brake assembly comprises at least one pawl, at least one biasing member, and a rotor. The at least one pawl includes a base from which a circular portion extends. The rotor includes at least one receiving portion having a notched portion configured and arranged to receive the circular portion. One of the at least one pawl and the rotor has a curved slotted portion, the at least one biasing member being seated within the curved slotted portion, and another of the at least one pawl and the rotor having a curved elongated protrusion extending in line with the curved slotted portion and the at least one biasing member. The at least one pawl is pivotable about the circular portion relative to the rotor, and the at least one pawl is configured and arranged to engage a stop member when the at least one pawl is in an engaged position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/254,592, filed Apr. 16, 2014, which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/660,262, filed Oct. 25, 2012, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/552,530 filed Oct. 28, 2011,which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Self-retracting lifelines are well known in the art of fall protectionsafety equipment for use by workers performing tasks during which thereis a risk a fall may occur. Self-retracting lifelines generally includea housing containing a drum around which a lifeline such as a cable, arope, or webbing is wound. The drum is spring biased to pay out thelifeline as tension pulling the lifeline is applied and to retract anyof the lifeline that has been unwound from the drum as the tension onthe lifeline is reduced or released. The housing also includes a brakeassembly for stopping rotation of the drum when the cable suddenlyunwinds from the drum at a rate greater than a predetermined maximumrotational velocity.

A self-retracting lifeline is typically connected to a support structurewithin the vicinity the worker is performing the task and to a safetyharness worn by the worker. Depending upon the type of task beingperformed, either the housing or the end of the lifeline is connected tothe support structure and the other is connected to the safety harnessworn by the worker. The lifeline is easily drawn out of theself-retracting lifeline housing as the worker moves away from thedevice, and the lifeline is automatically drawn back into the housing asthe worker moves toward the device. Should a fall occur, a brake memberwithin the device, such as but not limited to a ratchet member or a stopmember, is automatically engaged by a centrifugal brake assembly, whichstops the worker's fall by stopping the rotation of the drum when thelifeline unwinds from the drum at a rotational velocity greater than apredetermined maximum rotational velocity. As the rotation of the drumis stopped, additional lifeline is prevented from being paid out of thehousing to stop the fall of the worker.

It is desired to have a relatively small, lightweight self-retractinglifeline that can be used by itself or with a second self-retractinglifeline.

For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below, whichwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading andunderstanding the present specification, there is a need in the art foran improved self-retracting lifeline.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned problems associated with prior devices are addressedby embodiments of the present invention and will be understood byreading and understanding the present specification. The followingsummary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It ismerely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspectsof the invention.

In one embodiment, a centrifugal brake assembly comprises at least onepawl, at least one biasing member, and a rotor. The at least one pawlincludes a base from which a circular portion extends. The rotorincludes at least one receiving portion having a notched portionconfigured and arranged to receive the circular portion. One of the atleast one pawl and the rotor has a curved slotted portion, the at leastone biasing member being seated within the curved slotted portion, andanother of the at least one pawl and the rotor having a curved elongatedprotrusion extending in line with the curved slotted portion and the atleast one biasing member. The at least one pawl is pivotable about thecircular portion relative to the rotor, and the at least one pawl isconfigured and arranged to engage a stop member when the at least onepawl is in an engaged position.

In one embodiment, a centrifugal brake assembly comprises a first pawl,a second pawl, a first biasing member, a second biasing member, and arotor. The first pawl includes a first base from which a first circularportion and a first protrusion extend. The second pawl includes a secondbase from which a second circular portion and a second protrusionextend. The rotor includes a first receiving portion and a secondreceiving portion. The first receiving portion has a first notchedportion configured and arranged to receive the first circular portionand a first curved slotted portion configured and arranged to receivethe first protrusion and the first biasing member. The second receivingportion has a second notched portion configured and arranged to receivethe second circular portion and a second curved slotted portionconfigured and arranged to receive the second protrusion and the secondbiasing member. The first and second biasing members are seated within arespective of the curved slotted portions, each of the first and secondprotrusions comprises a curved elongated member extending in line with arespective of the curved slotted portions and the biasing members. Eachof the first and second pawls is pivotable about its circular portionrelative to the rotor and is configured and arranged to engage a stopmember when the pawl is in an engaged position.

In one embodiment, a centrifugal brake assembly comprises at least onepawl, at least one biasing member, and a rotor. The at least one pawlincludes a base from which a pivoting portion and an engaging portionextend. The rotor includes at least one receiving portion configured andarranged to receive the pivoting portion. One of the at least one pawland the rotor has a curved slotted portion, the at least one biasingmember is seated within the curved slotted portion, and another of theat least one pawl and the rotor has a curved elongated protrusionextending in line with the curved slotted portion and the at least onebiasing member. The at least one biasing member is positioned between asurface forming an end of the curved slotted portion and the curvedelongated protrusion and places a biasing force on the curved elongatedprotrusion to position the at least one pawl in a disengaged position.The biasing member is compressible to position the at least one pawl inan engaged position. The at least one pawl is pivotable about thepivoting portion relative to the rotor and the engaging portion of theat least one pawl is configured and arranged to engage a stop memberwhen the at least one pawl is in an engaged position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more easily understood, and furtheradvantages and uses thereof can be more readily apparent, whenconsidered in view of the detailed description and the following Figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a self-retracting lifelineconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front, partial cross section view of the self-retractinglifeline shown in FIG. 1 to show a centrifugal brake assembly;

FIG. 3 is a front, partial cross section view of the self-retractinglifeline shown in FIG. 1 to show a pawl of the centrifugal brakeassembly shown in FIG. 2 in an engaged position; and

FIG. 4 shows a self-retracting lifeline constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention operatively connected to asafety harness.

In accordance with common practice, the various described features arenot drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevantto the present invention. Reference characters denote like elementsthroughout the Figures and the text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shownby way of illustration embodiments in which the inventions may bepracticed. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is tobe understood that other embodiments may be utilized and mechanicalchanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, notto be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present inventionis defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, an embodiment self-retracting lifeline100 includes a housing 101, which includes a first portion 102 and asecond portion 112 that define a cavity 121 therebetween. The firstportion 102 includes a plate portion 103 with an aperture 105 proximatethe center and sides 106 extending approximately perpendicularly outwardfrom the edges of the plate portion 103. A cover 104, which could be aproduct label including a variety of information, is configured andarranged to be operatively connected to the plate portion 103 and coverthe aperture 105. The top right and left corners and the center of thebottom include protrusions 107 extending outward from the plate portion103 parallel with the direction the sides 106 extend. The protrusions107 include hook-like portions (not shown) proximate the distal ends.Proximate one side of the protrusion 107 located proximate the center ofthe bottom, the side 106 includes a slot (not shown) and a cylindricalportion 110 is proximate the protrusion 107 and the slot.

The second portion 112 includes a plate portion 113 with an aperture 115proximate the center and sides 116 extending approximatelyperpendicularly outward from the edges of the plate portion 113. A cover114, which could be a product label including a variety of information,is configured and arranged to be operatively connected to the plateportion 113 and cover the aperture 115. The top right and left cornersand the center of the bottom include receiving members 117 that areconfigured and arranged to receive the protrusions 107 from the firstportion 102, and the hook-like portions proximate the distal ends of theprotrusions 107 engage the receiving members 117 proximate the plateportion 113. As shown in FIG. 1, proximate one side of the receivingmember 117 located proximate the center of the bottom, the side 116includes a slot 116 a and a cylindrical portion 120 is proximate thereceiving member 117 and the slot 116 a. The inner surface of the plateportion 113 includes cylindrical portions 118 proximate the top of theaperture 115 and flanges 119 proximate the sides of the aperture 115.Although not shown, the first portion 102 includes similar cylindricalportions and flanges. The cylindrical portion 120 corresponds with thecylindrical portion of the first portion 102, and each end of a roller122 is received by these cylindrical portions.

A bracket 124 is generally upside down U-shaped and includes top 131interconnecting a first side 125 and a second side 128. It is recognizedthat any suitable bracket member could be used. The first side 125includes an aperture 127 proximate the center and apertures 126positioned above the aperture 127. The second side 128 includes anaperture 130 proximate the center and apertures 129 positioned above theaperture 130. The apertures 127 and 130 correspond, and the apertures126 and 129 correspond. The top 131 includes an aperture 132 proximatethe center. Proximate the juncture of the first side 125 and the top131, two generally parallel slots are cut that extend from the firstside 125 to the top 131 and the portion between the two slots is bentinward to form a stop member 133. The stop member 133 preferably forms agenerally ninety degree angle. Because both ends of the stop member 133remain connected to the bracket 124, the stop member 133 is muchstronger than if it were formed by a U-shaped slot or cut only connectedat one end. Thus, the stop member 133 is reinforced and is less likelyto distort when it is engaged by one of the pawls. It is recognized thatthe stop member could also be a separate piece of material operativelyconnected to the bracket 124.

An anchor member 136 generally forms two ring portions with a firstaperture 137, which is larger, proximate the top and a second aperture138, which is smaller, proximate the bottom. A connector 140 isconfigured and arranged to extend through the aperture 132 in the top131 of the bracket 124 and connect the anchor member 136 to the bracket124. The connector 140 is generally U-shaped and includes a bottomportion 145 interconnecting a first side 141 and a second side 143. Thefirst side 141 includes an aperture 142 proximate its distal end, andthe second side 143 includes a corresponding aperture 144 proximate itsdistal end. The bottom portion 145 is generally disk shaped. A washer146 is preferably positioned between the bottom portion 145 and thebracket 124, and the first and second sides 141 and 143 extend thoughthe aperture 132 of the bracket's top 131. The bottom portion of theanchor member 136 is positioned between the first and second sides 141and 143 so that the aperture 138 aligns with the apertures 142 and 144,and a fastener 147 extends through the apertures 142, 138, and 144. Theanchor member 136 extends outwardly from the top of the housing 101, andthe first aperture 137 enables the self-retracting lifeline 100 to beconnected to a support structure (not shown) by a hook (not shown) orother suitable fastener well known in the art.

A drum 150, which resembles a spool when assembled, includes a base 151and plate members that are a first side 152 and a second side 153operatively connected to opposing sides of the base 151. Preferably, thesecond side 153 is integral with the base 151, as shown in FIG. 1, butit is recognized that the second side 153 could be a separate componentsimilar to the first side 152. The base 151 includes a cylindricalportion 150 c extending outward therefrom with a bore 150 b andpreferably four smaller bores 150 a positioned about the cylindricalportion 150 c extending longitudinally through the base 151 and thesecond side 153 proximate the center. The first side 152 includes anaperture 152 b configured and arranged to receive the cylindricalportion 150 c and four apertures 152 a corresponding with the bores 150a. A biasing member 159, such as a motor spring, includes an inner end159 a and an outer end 159 b. A housing 159 c is configured and arrangedto receive the biasing member 159 proximate one side of the biasingmember 159. The housing 159 c generally includes a circular plate memberwith a side extending outward therefrom to form a cavity in which thebiasing member 159 is received. The side includes a slot through whichthe outer end 159 b extends. The inner end 159 a is operativelyconnected to the second side 153 by means well known in the art and thehousing 159 c is operatively connected to the bracket 124 by a rivet 134or other means well known in the art. Because the outer end 159 b isoperatively connected to the housing 159 c, which is operativelyconnected to the bracket 124, the outer end 159 b is operativelyconnected to the bracket 124 and is held in a generally stationaryposition relative to the bracket 124.

A lifeline 155 includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediateportion therebetween. Although the preferred embodiment utilizeswebbing, it is recognized that cable, rope, or another suitable elongatemember may be used as the lifeline. The first end of the lifeline 155 isfixedly operatively connected by means well known in the art to the base151. The intermediate portion is wound onto and off of the base 151 ofthe drum 150, and the sides 152 and 153 of the drum 150 keep thelifeline on the base 151. The second end of the lifeline 155 extendsthrough the housing 101 and is operatively connected to a fasteningdevice such as a snap hook 157. The lifeline 155 could also include ashock absorber 156 proximate the snap hook 157.

A centrifugal brake assembly includes a rotor 162, pawls 172 and 176,and springs 180 and 181. The rotor 162 is generally an oval-shaped diskor plate including two opposing receiving portions. The first receivingportion 165 includes a notched portion 166, which includes asemi-circular portion, and a slotted portion 167. The second receivingportion 168 includes a notched portion 169, which includes asemi-circular portion, and a slotted portion 170. An aperture 163proximate the center of the rotor 162 is in alignment with aperture 152b of the first side 152 and is also configured and arranged to receivethe cylindrical portion 150 c. Apertures 164 are arranged about aperture163 in alignment with apertures 152 a and bores 150 a. The aperture 163and the apertures 164 are arranged in a central, generally circularportion of the rotor 162. The receiving portions 165 and 168 extendoutward from the central portion of the rotor 162 to form the generallyoval-shaped disk.

The first pawl 172 includes a circular portion 173, a protrusion 174,and a triangular protrusion 175 a all protruding outwardly from agenerally rectangular base portion 172 a. The circular portion 173protrudes outwardly proximate a first corner of the base portion 172 a.The protrusion 174 protrudes outwardly proximate a middle of one sideproximate the circular portion 173. A notched portion 175 is formed bythe base portion 172 a and the triangular protrusion 175 a, whichextends outwardly proximate a second corner adjacent the circularportion 173 and proximate a side opposite the protrusion 174.

The first receiving portion 165 of the rotor 162 is configured andarranged to receive the first pawl 172 and a first spring 180. Thenotched portion 166 receives the circular portion 173 and the slottedportion 167 receives the first spring 180 and the protrusion 174. Thenotched portion 166 is configured and arranged to allow the first pawl172 to pivot about the circular portion 173. It is recognized that theslotted portion of the rotor and the protrusion of the pawl could bereversed so that the pawl includes a slotted portion configured andarranged to receive the first spring and the protrusion of the rotor.

The second pawl 176 includes a circular portion 177, a protrusion 178,and a triangular protrusion 179 a all protruding outwardly from agenerally rectangular base portion 176 a. The circular portion 177protrudes outwardly proximate a first corner of the base portion 176 a.The protrusion 178 protrudes outwardly proximate a middle of one sideproximate the circular portion 177. A notched portion 179 is formed bythe base portion 176 a and the triangular protrusion 179 a, whichextends outwardly proximate a second corner adjacent the circularportion 177 and proximate a side opposite the protrusion 178.

The second receiving portion 168 of the rotor 162 is configured andarranged to receive the second pawl 176 and a second spring 181. Thenotched portion 169 receives the circular portion 177 and the slottedportion 170 receives the second spring 181 and the protrusion 178. Thenotched portion 169 is configured and arranged to allow the second pawl176 to pivot about the circular portion 177. It is recognized that theslotted portion of the rotor and the protrusion of the pawl could bereversed so that the pawl includes a slotted portion configured andarranged to receive the first spring and the protrusion of the rotor.

To assemble the self-retracting lifeline, the lifeline 155 isoperatively connected to the base 151 of the drum and the aperture 152 bof the first side 152 receives the cylindrical portion 150 c. Theapertures 152 a of the first side 152 correspond with the bores 150 a ofthe drum 150. The rotor 162 includes the aperture 163 configured andarranged to receive the cylindrical portion 150 c and four apertures 164corresponding with apertures 152 a and bores 150 a. The bores 150 a, theapertures 152 a, and the apertures 164 are spaced approximately evenlyabout the bore 150 b of the drum 150, the aperture 152 b of the rotor162, and the aperture 163 of the rotor, respectively, and are configuredand arranged to receive fasteners 154. The pawls 172 and 176 and thesprings 180 and 181 are positioned in the respective receiving portions165 and 168. The drum 150, the lifeline 155, the motor spring 159, andthe centrifugal brake assembly are configured and arranged to fitbetween the first and second sides 125 and 128 of the bracket 124 sothat the bore 150 b corresponds with the apertures 127 and 130. Theanchor member 136 is operatively connected to the bracket 124 aspreviously described. The pawls 172 and 176 are positioned proximate thefirst side 125. An axel 184 is inserted through the aperture 127, thebore 150 b, and the aperture 130 to connect these components.

The bracket 124 along with the components therein and the roller 122 arethen positioned between the first portion 102 and the second portion 112of the housing 101. The apertures 126 of the first side 125 areconfigured and arranged to receive the cylindrical portions (not shown)of the first portion 102, and the apertures 129 of the second side 128are configured and arranged to receive the cylindrical portions 118 ofthe second portion 112. The receiving members 117 of the second portion112 receive the protrusions 107 of the first portion 102, and thehook-line portions at the distal ends of the protrusions 107 engage thereceiving members 117 to operatively connected the first and secondportions 102 and 112 of the housing 101. The apertures 127 and 130 ofthe bracket's first and second sides 125 and 128 and the bore 150 b ofthe drum 150 align with the apertures 105 and 115 of the housing's firstand second portions 102 and 112, and an axel 184 is configured andarranged to extend therethrough so that the drum 150 is rotatablyoperatively connected to the bracket 124 and the housing 101. The motorspring 159, which is operatively connected to the drum 150 and thebracket member 124 as previously described, places a biasing force onthe drum 150 so that the lifeline 155 is wound about the drum 150 whentension on the lifeline 155 is released. The lifeline 155 extendsthrough the slots in the first and second portions 102 and 112 and theroller 122 assists in reducing wear on the lifeline 155 as it is paidout of and retracted into the housing 101.

The pawls 172 and 176 and the springs 180 and 181 are held into place bythe first side 152 of the drum 150, the rotor 162, and the first side125 of the bracket 124. In other words, the notched portions 166 and169, the slotted portions 167 and 170, the first side 152 of the drum150, and the first side 125 of the bracket 124 form cavities or areas ofconfinement within which the pawls 172 and 176 and the springs 180 and181 are arranged.

In operation, the housing 101 of the self-retracting lifeline 100 isoperatively connected to a support structure via the anchor member 136,and the lifeline 155 is operatively connected to a safety harness wornby a worker via the snap hook 157. The worker is free to move about thevicinity of the self-retracting lifeline 100, with only the length ofthe lifeline 155 restricting the distance of the worker's movement. Asthe worker moves further away from the self-retracting lifeline 100,lifeline 155 is paid out of the housing 101 as it is unwound from thedrum 150. As the worker moves closer to the self-retracting lifeline100, lifeline 155 is retracted into the housing 101 as it is wound aboutthe drum 150 due to the biasing force exerted upon the drum 150 by themotor spring 159.

In the event a fall should occur, the sudden acceleration or high rateof speed at which the drum 150 turns to pay out lifeline 155 causes thepawls 172 and 176 to overcome the force of the springs 180 and 181. Thecentrifugal force causes the pawls 172 and 176 to pivot about thecircular portions 173 and 177 and the protrusions 174 and 178 compressthe springs 180 and 181. As the drum 150 rotates and the pawls 172 and176 move from a disengaged position 190 into an engaged position 191,one of the pawls 172 and 176 will engage the stop member 133 of thebracket 124. The notched portions 175 and 179 of the pawls 172 and 176are configured and arranged to engage the stop member 133. In addition,the protrusions 174 and 178 are positioned within the slotted portions167 and 170 and the bases 172 a and 176 a of the pawls 172 and 176contact the rotor 162, which strengthens the pawl that engages the stopmember 133. The first and second pawls 172 and 176 are each shown in adisengaged position 190 in FIG. 2, and the second pawl 176 is shown inan engaged position 191 in FIG. 3. When the lifeline 155 unwinds fromthe drum 150 at a rotational velocity greater than a predeterminedmaximum rotational velocity, both pawls 172 and 176 pivot to the engagedpositions. After the fall is arrested, the pawl that is not engaging thestop member 133 will return to the disengaged position due to thebiasing force of the biasing member 159. Engagement of the stop member133 by one of the pawls 172 and 176 stops rotation of the drum 150 andthus stops additional lifeline 155 from being paid out of the housing101. Once one of the pawls 172 and 176 has engaged the stop member 133,it cannot be disengaged until the drum 150 begins to rotate backward torewind the lifeline 155 onto the drum 150. The shock absorber 156 isused to absorb energy and reduce the amount of force exerted upon theworker from the fall.

During use, but not during a fall, the first spring 180 places a biasingforce on the first pawl 172 so that the triangular protrusion 175 acontacts the rotor 162 and the second spring 181 places a biasing forceon the second pawl 176 so that the triangular protrusion 179 a contactsthe rotor 162. During a fall or when the drum 150 rotates at apredetermined speed, the biasing forces of the first and second springs180 and 181 are overcome, the first and second pawls 172 and 176 pivottoward the respective slotted portions 167 and 170, and the protrusions174 and 178 compress the respective first and second springs 180 and181.

One of the advantages of the present invention is the ease ofmanufacture and assembly of the self-retracting lifeline 100. In priorart self-retracting lifelines, the pawls include pins about which thepawls pivot and the pawls are fixedly attached to the springs, which arefixedly attached to another component. The present invention does notinclude pins on the pawls or fixedly attach the springs to anycomponent. The pawls 172 and 176 and the springs 180 and 181 are simplyplaced within the appropriate spaces or cavities formed by the firstside 152 of the drum 150, the rotor 162, and the first side 125 of thebracket 124.

The first side 152 of the drum 150, the rotor 162, and the first side125 of the bracket 124 form an enclosure that defines boundaries of aconfinement cavity, wherein the pawls 172 and 176 and the springs 180and 181 are held in place from movement in a first direction by a frontstop (first side 125) and a back stop (first side 152). The pawls 172and 176 are held in place from movement in a second direction generallyperpendicular to the first direction by the rotor 162. The springs 180and 181 are held in place from movement in the second direction by therotor 162 and the respective protrusions 174 and 178 of the pawls 172and 176. The pawls 172 and 176 and the springs 180 and 181 are held inplace by the boundaries of the confinement cavity. Therefore, the pawls172 and 176 and the springs 180 and 181 do not require anyinterconnections such as pins or other fixed attachments well known inthe art.

FIG. 4 shows the self-retracting lifeline 100 operatively connected to aharness by means well known in the art.

It is recognized that the centrifugal brake assembly, including therotor 162, the pawls 172 and 176, and the springs 180 and 181, of thepresent invention is not limited to use with the preferred embodimentself-retracting lifeline 100 and may be used with any other suitableself-retracting lifeline or controlled descent device well known in theart.

The above specification, examples, and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the composition of embodimentsof the invention. Although specific embodiments have been illustratedand described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skillin the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the samepurpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. Thisapplication is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of theinvention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention belimited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A centrifugal brake assembly, comprising:at least one pawl including a base from which a circular portionextends; at least one biasing member; a rotor including at least onereceiving portion having a notched portion being configured and arrangedto receive the circular portion; one of the at least one pawl and therotor having a curved slotted portion, the at least one biasing memberbeing seated within the curved slotted portion, another of the at leastone pawl and the rotor having a curved elongated protrusion extending inline with the curved slotted portion and the at least one biasingmember; and wherein the at least one pawl is pivotable about thecircular portion relative to the rotor and the at least one pawl isconfigured and arranged to engage a stop member when the at least onepawl is in an engaged position.
 2. The centrifugal brake assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one biasing member biases the at least onepawl in a disengaged position and the at least one pawl compresses theat least one biasing member and moves into the engaged position when therotor exceeds a predetermined maximum rotational velocity.
 3. Thecentrifugal brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one pawlincludes the curved elongated protrusion and the rotor includes thecurved slotted portion.
 4. The centrifugal brake assembly of claim 1,wherein the base of the at least one pawl is generally rectangular, thecircular portion protrudes outwardly proximate a first corner of thebase portion, and a triangular portion extends outwardly proximate asecond corner adjacent the circular portion, the triangular portionbeing configured and arranged to engage the stop member when the atleast one pawl is in the engaged position.
 5. The centrifugal brakeassembly of claim 1, wherein the notched portion of the rotor includes asemi-circular portion.
 6. The centrifugal brake assembly of claim 1,wherein the rotor includes opposing first and second receiving portionsand each of the first and second receiving portions is configured andarranged to receive the circular portion of a respective pawl.
 7. Thecentrifugal brake assembly of claim 1, wherein the base contacts therotor in the engaged position to reinforce the at least one pawl.
 8. Acentrifugal brake assembly, comprising: a first pawl including a firstbase from which a first circular portion and a first protrusion extend;a second pawl including a second base from which a second circularportion and a second protrusion extend; a first biasing member; a secondbiasing member; a rotor including a first receiving portion and a secondreceiving portion, the first receiving portion having a first notchedportion configured and arranged to receive the first circular portionand a first curved slotted portion configured and arranged to receivethe first protrusion and the first biasing member, the second receivingportion having a second notched portion configured and arranged toreceive the second circular portion and a second curved slotted portionconfigured and arranged to receive the second protrusion and the secondbiasing member, the first and second biasing members seated within arespective of the curved slotted portions, each of the first and secondprotrusions comprises a curved elongated member extending in line with arespective of the curved slotted portions and the biasing members; andwherein each of the first and second pawls is pivotable about itscircular portion relative to the rotor and is configured and arranged toengage a stop member when the pawl is in an engaged position.
 9. Thecentrifugal brake assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and secondbiasing members bias the respective first and second pawls in adisengaged position and at least one of the first and second pawlscompresses the respective biasing member and moves into the engagedposition when the rotor exceeds a predetermined maximum rotationalvelocity.
 10. The centrifugal brake assembly of claim 8, wherein thebase of the at least one pawl is generally rectangular, the circularportion protrudes outwardly proximate a first corner of the baseportion, and a triangular portion extends outwardly proximate a secondcorner adjacent the circular portion.
 11. The centrifugal brake assemblyof claim 8, wherein the notched portion of the rotor includes asemi-circular portion.
 12. The centrifugal brake assembly of claim 8,wherein the base contacts the rotor in the engaged position to reinforcethe pawl.
 13. A centrifugal brake assembly, comprising: at least onepawl including a base from which a pivoting portion and an engagingportion extend; at least one biasing member; a rotor including at leastone receiving portion configured and arranged to receive the pivotingportion; one of the at least one pawl and the rotor having a curvedslotted portion, the at least one biasing member being seated within thecurved slotted portion, another of the at least one pawl and the rotorhaving a curved elongated protrusion extending in line with the curvedslotted portion and the at least one biasing member, the at least onebiasing member being positioned between a surface forming an end of thecurved slotted portion and the curved elongated protrusion and placing abiasing force on the curved elongated protrusion to position the atleast one pawl in a disengaged position, the biasing member beingcompressible to position the at least one pawl in an engaged position;and wherein the at least one pawl is pivotable about the pivotingportion relative to the rotor and the engaging portion of the at leastone pawl is configured and arranged to engage a stop member when the atleast one pawl is in an engaged position.
 14. The centrifugal brakeassembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one receiving portionincludes a notched portion configured and arranged to receive thepivoting portion, the pivoting portion is generally circular in shape,the engaging portion is generally triangular in shape, and the notchedportion includes a generally semi-circular portion.
 15. The centrifugalbrake assembly of claim 14, wherein the base of the at least one pawl isgenerally rectangular, the pivoting portion protrudes outwardlyproximate a first corner of the base portion, and the engaging portionextends outwardly proximate a second corner adjacent the pivotingportion.
 16. The centrifugal brake assembly of claim 13, wherein the atleast one pawl includes the protrusion and the rotor includes theslotted portion.
 17. The centrifugal brake assembly of claim 13, whereinthe rotor includes opposing first and second receiving portions and eachof the first and second receiving portions is configured and arranged toreceive the pivoting portion of a respective pawl.
 18. The centrifugalbrake assembly of claim 13, wherein the base contacts the rotor in theengaged position to reinforce the at least one pawl.